Golden finish as Ruby retires

The 39-year-old turned to the crowd and waved goodbye as he crossed the line, signalling his career in the saddle was over.

surrounded by his family, Walsh, who also overcame a series of serious injuries, brought down the curtain on a glittering career at the same meeting where sister Katie had retired 12 months earlier.

It was Walsh’s association with Kemboy’s trainer Mullins in Ireland and Paul Nicholls in britain which allowed him to ride some of the best horses in the last 20 years.

They included dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kauto star, Denman, four-time World hurdle winner big buck’s, dual Champion hurdler winner hurricane Fly and two-time Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Master Minded as well as annie Power and Faughheen.

Walsh, who will now concentrate on his roles in the media, said: ‘I have been very lucky to ride for two of the greatest trainers in Willie and Paul and ride a lot of the greatest horses of my generation. any jockey is only as good as the horses they ride and I rode superstars.

‘being a jockey is all I have wanted and I got to live that dream. It’s time for something different.’

Walsh did not ride as many winners as great friend and rival sir anthony McCoy but the two icons of jump racing have to be mentioned in the same sentence. Only McCoy and Richard Johnson won more than the 2,756 wins Walsh enjoyed in britain and Ireland, and no jockey has ridden more jumps wins in Ireland where Walsh was champion 12 times.

his 59 winners at the Cheltenham Festival is more than any other jockey. Walsh won the Grand National twice, for trainer father Ted on Papillon in 2000 and hedgehunter in 2005.